Severe long-term diarrhea..........sooo embarrassing. - Open to All Other Health Topics Message Board

bleedingsoul88 · 07-13-2005, 12:47 PM

I've had really bad diarrhea about six or more times a day, for about a month now. I don't even have to eat...or drink anything for this to happen. It is really annoying and making my bottom very sore.

I had my gallbladder out in February...so I suffer from dump syndrome a lot...but only after I eat...and usually not as runny...eew. This is not only annoying...but very frustrating! It comes so quickly that sometimes I barely make it to the bathroom.

Does anyone else have a problem like this? I'm really afraid that one of these times I'm going to have an accident...and I don't want that to happen.

Please help, any advice is greatly appreciated.

The Inquirer · 07-13-2005, 03:51 PM

Hi Soul,

From what I understand, what you are experiencing can be very common after having your gallbladder out. I've heard that taking a calcium supplement, like Caltrate, helps a lot with this. It worked for my friend, also. You might want to look into it by doing some research.

Good luck,
Inq

last1 · 07-13-2005, 04:58 PM

I had my gall bladder out in May and never had this symptom. So, (since I work in a trauma center) I'm wondering if you didn't catch something while you were in the hospital. There is an organism which one can have (usually as a result of taking anti-biotics) and can be transmitted from patient to patient. THe organism is call Clostrodium DIfficile and the condition is called Clostridium Difficile Colitis. If this is what you have, then you'll want to be treated by a doctor. Diarrhea is not a normal activity of the bowel and the possibility of becoming significantly dehydrate and creating an imbalance in your electrolytes is highly probable with this condition. chris

Fizzickle · 07-13-2005, 08:20 PM

bleeding soul:

I absolutely concur with cflas. Please see a doctor.

I'm recovering from a case of c.difficile, and it has been one of the most irritating problems I've run across in my long lifetime.

It started by my taking antibiotics for a sinus infection. After finishing that course of medicine, I started having the symptoms you describe (but a couple of times I didn't make it to the bathroom). Ugh!

After nearly three weeks of frustration and misery, I finally realized I had to do something other than take Immodium. I went to my gastroenterologist and found I had something I'd never heard of before, c. difficile. I'm just finishing up a prescription of Flagyl, and am finally back on a normal schedule.

The bacteria that cause c. difficile normally exist in the lower intestines, but are kept in check by good bacteria. Antibiotics kill off the good bacteria, allowing the c. difficile bacteria to run amok.

The fact that you were in the hospital, whether or not you took antibiotics, in itself is reason to suspect c. difficile, because it can be transmitted in hospital environments. The bacteria are hard to kill.. Run a search on c. difficile, and you'll probably find more information than you care to know.

You have my sympathies. This is miserable stuff.

Best wishes,
Bill .

bleedingsoul88 · 07-13-2005, 10:02 PM

That does sound very much like what I have.....but I had my gallbladder out four months ago....can it last that long? I was hospitalized in April as well....for personal reasons.

And I must admit.....even though I didn't want to before....I haven't made it to the bathroom a few times too.....I was just too embarrassed to say it.

Anyway....thanks for the insight, hopefully I can get this figured out soon...as I am feeling very weak.